Lock bracket



Aug. 16, 19380 W. H. ZEMBALIST LOCK BRACKET Filed Aug. 21, 1936 ATToRNE Patented Aug. 16, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCK BRACKET Application August 21, 1936, Serial No. 97,195

6 Claims.

This invention relates to brackets for adjustably supporting shelves, hangers and other types of display or article supports in connection with a support having longitudinally spaced apertures therein; and the object of the invention is to provide a bracket of the type defined having means for coupling and uncoupling the bracket with a perforated or apertured support, and still further to means for mounting or retaining the bracket against accidental displacement from the support, said last named means being manually movable into inoperative position to permit detachment of the bracket whenever desired; a further object being to provide a lock or latching means for brackets of the class described in the form of a spring-operated pawl or finger adapted to enter one of the apertures in the apertured support in keying and retaining the bracket against displacement therefrom; and with these and other objects in view the invention consists in a device of the class and for the purpose specified which is simple in construction, efiicient in use and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tubular support illustrating one of my improved brackets mounted thereon with part of the construction broken away.

Fig. 2 is a partial section on the line 22 of Fig. l on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a face View looking in the direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing only a part of the construction and showing a modification; and,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing only a part of the construction and showing a modification.

To illustrate one use of my invention or one type of support which may be employed, I have shown in the accompanying drawing, a tubular column or standard 5, preferably composed of sheet metal, and which is also preferably rectangular in cross sectional form, and the side walls of said tubular column or standard are provided with vertically spaced elongated apertures 6. With this type of support, a number of my improved brackets may be coupled with the several side surfaces of the tubular column at diiferent points thereon, to provide what might be termed a four-way display and any type of support may be provided for the tubular standard or column 5 on a supporting surface. At this time, it will also be understood that my improved bracket 1,

as seen in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, and the bracket la'shown in Fig. 4 is adaptable for use on any type or kind of perforated support, provided sufiicient room is left on the inner surface of the support to receive the coupling elements employed.

The bracket 1 consists of a supporting end portion 8 adapted to be arranged upon one surface of the standard 5 with two hook-shaped coupling elements or lugs 9 and I arranged in engagement with two of the spaced apertures 6 with at least one or more of said apertures between those engaged by or through which the lugs 9 and I0 pass.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the lugs 9 and H] are independently formed and are riveted or otherwise secured, as indicated at H, to the supporting end portion 8 of the bracket, whereas in the construction shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, hook-shaped lugs 90. and Illa are stamped from the material of the end portion 8a so as to form an integral part thereof. At I2, I have shown the projecting supporting part of the bracket which may be of any desired form and construction and in any desired angular arrangement with respect to the end portion 8. If the support I2 is to be used as a shelf support, one or more transverse supporting strips [3 may be employed thereon.

In Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing, the strips l3 have been broken away, but it will be understood that said length will suit the particular type of shelving employed. It will also be understood that suitable means will be provided for supporting a shelf against displacement from the parts [2 and I3 but no showing is made thereof, as it forms no part of the present invention.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, I secure to the mounting end portion 8, preferably above the hook-shaped lug I ll, an outwardly projecting ear or bearing portion M which is apertured to receive a pivot pin for pivotally mounting a lever l 6 in connection therewith. The handle end portion I! of the lever 5 as well as the central portion thereof is of channeled cross sectional form to receive the bearing M as well as one end 18 of a spring, the other end l9 being secured to the support 8, Whereas the end portion 20 of the lever is flattened and is provided with a projecting pawl'Zl which passes through an aperture 22 in the mounting end portion 8 and in registering alinement with one of the apertures 6, as clearly seen in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

It will be understood that the spring end l8 serves to normally urge the pawl 2| into operative position as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawing. However, by pressing upon the end portion ll of the lever, the pawl may be moved out of en gagement with the aperture 6 to permit detachment of the bracket, it being understood that when the pawl 2i is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the bracket 1 cannot be moved vertically on the column or standard to detach the hookshaped lugs 9 and liltherefrom. It will thus be seen that the bracket is retained against. accidental displacement from the support at all times.

At this time, it will also be understood that in the operation of attaching the bracket 'l tothe standard, the pawl 2| will, be automatically moved outwardly by engagement with the outer surface of the standard 5 and the bracket may be thus automatically latched in position, it being i form a projecting pawl or bolt portion 26 and a V-shaped notch 21 adapted to cooperate with the lower wall'portion of the aperture 22a formed in the supporting end portion 8a. The downwardly directed part 28'engages the outer surface of the stripor plate 8a tolimit inward movement of the pawl 26. The part 23 will be preferably provided'with aweakened portion as at 29' suflicientto-provide free flexure or spring movement: of thearm soas to permit the same .5 to normally: assume the position shown in Fig. 4

of the drawingunder tension, and yet permit the outward movement of said arm and the pawl26 sufficiently to disengage the standard 5 to permit detachment of the bracket'la.

In Fig. 5 of the drawing, I have shown-a-slight modification of the constructionshown in Figs. 1' to 3. inclusive, wherein the lever Ilia or the end portion 202:. thereof is ofchanneled cross sectional form, and-an independent pawl member 2Ia is supported within the channeled enda upon a pivot pin or rivet 2Ib so as to provide arocking or swivel movement of the pawl 21a, thereby producing better alinement of saidpawl within the aperturesiia and 22asimi- -lar to the apertures 6 and 22 shown in Fig. 2

of the drawing.

With-the construction shown in Fig. 4, it will be understood thatthe arm 23 will also act' as a bracing member; especially if the supporting .portion l2a is subjected to. excessive loads, the

brace. arm.23 seating in the notch or recess 21. The hook-shapedcoupling elements or lugswS'a', llla may be. incorporated with-the construction shownin Figs. 2 and 5, and inlike manner, lugs similar to those shown at!) and I0 inFig. 2 are applicable for use with the structure shown in Fig. 4.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

1. A supporting bracket of the class described, comprising amounting end. portion and asupporting part, said mounting end portion having spaced, hook-shaped lugs fornattachment .to

a suitable support, resilient means on the mountingendportionwand engaging the support to retain the bracket against detachment fromwsaid support, said means comprising a lever pivoted to the mounting end portion, and a pawl on one end portion of said lever.

2. A supporting bracket of the class described comprising a mounting end portion and a supporting part, said mounting end portion having spaced hook-shaped lugs for attachment to a suitable support, resilient means on the mounting end portion and engaging the support to retain the bracket against detachment from said support, said means comprising a lever pivoted to the mounting end portion and a pawl on one end'portiorr of said lever, said pawl having a swivel mounting in the lever.

3. A supporting bracket of the class described, comprising amounting end portion and. av supporting part, said mounting end portion having spaced hook-shaped lugs for attachment to a suitable support, resilient meanson the mounting end portion and. engaging the support to retain the. bracket against detachment from said support, said means comprising a lever pivoted to-the mounting end portionand a pawl on one end portion of said lever, said. lever being of channeled cross sectional form, and a spring seatingin the channel of said lever at one end thereof and engaging. said mounting end portion of the bracket for normally supporting the pawl of said lever in operative position.

4. A supporting bracketof the class described, comprising amounting end portion and a supporting part,.said mounting end portion having spaced hook-shaped lugs for attachment to a suitable support, resilient means on the mounting end' portion. and engaging the support to retain the bracket against detachment from said support, said means comprising a lever pivoted to the mounting'end portion and a pawl on one end portion of said lever, said lever being of channeled cross sectional form, a spring seatin'g in the channel of said lever at one end thereof andzengaging said mounting end portion of the bracketfor'norma'llysupporting the pawl of said lever inoperative position, and thempawl of said lever being movably supported thereon.

5. A: supporting bracketof the: class described comprising an' elongatedmounting portion having spaced hook-l-shaped i coupling: members: projecting from one side surface thereof, said mount ing portion being provided intermediate said hook-shaped members with" art aperture, .a lever.

pivotally; supported 0I1' th81.0th81" surface. of said mounting portion, one end of said leverv having? a part adapted'to pass throughrthe aperture in said mounting portion; and tensional means engaging the other end of the lever'for nor mally supporting. saidpart in said. aperture;

6.- A' supporting bracket of":theclassdescribed comprising an elongated mounting portionhav ing spaced hook-shaped coupling members projecting -from'one side surface'th-ereof, said mounting portion being provided intermediate said hook shaped -members with an I aperture, a lever" pivotallysupported on the other surface of said mounting portion, one end of said" lever'havi'ng a part adapted'to pass through the aperture'insaid mountingportion; tensionalmeans engaging the other end-of the lever for normally sup-- portingsaid part in saidaperture,- and said part being movably supported'on said lever.

WILLIAM H. ZIMBALIST'. 

